The Space-Time Smackdown expansion has created a paradigm shift in the Pokémon TCG Pocket meta, with new EX and Trainer cards such as the Darkrai EX and Cyrus combo creating havoc in combat.
But these new cards aren’t the only meta-shaking elements as some old favorites from the Genetic Apex and Mythical Island sets have received some significant hidden buffs due to cards introduced in Space-Time Smackdown.
So, let’s check out the top cards (in no particular order) that have become all the more impactful and are bound to help you win more battles in the current meta.
Druddigon
#56Druddigon broke into the competitive scene during Mythical Island thanks to its Rough Skin Ability. Whenever Druddigon is hit by an attack from the opposing Pokémon, it does a chip damage of 20. Not only does it wear down the opponent but it also works like a wall for you to build your strongest card(s) on the Bench.
Now, the Space-Time Smackdown has introduced the Rocky Helmet Pokémon Tool that also does 20 chip damage. But wait! If you attach Rocky Helmet to Druddigon, you deal 40 DMG just on getting hit! 😯
Rocky Helmet
#148This is a legitimately scary disposition for your opponent, who would avoid attacking Rocky Helmet Druddigon while you can conveniently build your cards on the Bench. In fact, when coupled with Darkrai EX, you do a whopping 60 DMG courtesy of its Ability Nightmare Aura. 😈
The best part is that Druddigon doesn’t require any Energy investment, making it a custom fit in any deck. Moreover, it can be easily retreated using the Leaf Supporter card.
Going forward, it’s highly likely that Rocky Helmet Druddigon will remain future-proof. Nonetheless, Druddigon is an amazing card that has become more of an asset with Rocky Helmet.
Moltres EX
#255Moltres EX is arguably the most future-proof of the Kanto Legendary Birds from Genetic Apex as supplying up to 3 Energy (based on the number of heads on flipping a coin thrice) to your Benched cards in any way you like is tremendous. This is particularly useful for EX cards since they typically require a lot of Energy to fire off their main attacks and often discard Energy as well.
While it is fine and dandy, there was a small constraint associated with the card. You always attach at least 1 Energy to Moltres EX for using Inferno Dance, and once you collected enough Energy for Fire-type Pokémon like Arcanine EX or Charizard EX, Moltres EX would have been retreated to give way to the other card.
In other words, the Energy associated with Moltres EX ‘goes to waste’ in a way. What if you could transfer that Energy to one of your EX cards? Infernape EX, for instance, has a 2 Energy, 140 DMG move called Flare Blitz that unfortunately discards both Energies on using it. But the next turn, Infernape can take 1 Energy from the turn and also 1 Energy from Moltres with the Dawn Supporter card!
Dawn
#154With Moltres EX guaranteed to have at least 1 Energy, use Leaf to retreat for free, and then in the next turn, send that Energy to your Active Spot with Dawn. Along with the turn’s energy, you’re basically giving 2 Energy to your Active card.
You can also choose to give 2 Energy to Moltres EX and use Dawn to give an invaluable extra Energy on two different turns.
Articuno EX
#275Articuno EX is a mainstay in the popular Water decks and is a versatile card. It can lead, sponge damage, attack the opponent’s Active Pokémon with 80 DMG, and also deal 10 chip damage to all of their Benched cards. Note that this Bench damage is now a game-changer with the Cyrus Supporter card in tow.
Now, imagine being ready to do this in 2 to 3 turns without Articuno EX taking damage, and no, we’re not even talking about Misty here! 😮
The new Manaphy card has a non-damaging move called Oceanic Gift which literally gifts 1 Water Energy to each of your Benched cards. So, you just need to start with Manaphy while positioning Articuno EX on the Bench, ideally with Eevee (Vaporeon).
Manaphy
#162With this, Articuno EX gets 1 Energy. Repeat this and Articuno EX has 2 Energy (while still not taking damage). Now, use X Speed/Leaf to retreat Manaphy and bring a completely healthy Articuno EX, all set to use Blizzard with the new turn’s Energy gain.
- Keep in mind that you can do this even quicker with Vaporeon. In the second attacking turn, where Manaphy is Active and the Bench has Articuno EX (1 Energy) and Eevee (1 Energy), retreat Manaphy, bring 1 Energy Articuno EX to Active, give the turn’s Energy to Articuno EX, and evolve Eevee. Vaporeon’s Wash Out Ability sends its own 1 Energy to Articuno and guess what? Articuno EX now has 3 Energy!
- Even if Eevee hasn’t evolved, there’s another way to have Articuno EX with 3 Energy in just two turns: Dawn Supporter! Withdraw Manaphy with X Speed/Leaf, bring 1 Energy Articuno EX to Active, and give it the turn’s Energy (resulting in 2 Energy for Articuno). The next turn, use Dawn to send 1 Energy from Manaphy/Eevee to make it 3 Energy and freeze your opponents!
If you go lucky with Misty and gain even 1 Energy (1 head), it’s super useful. Articuno EX is also an excellent candidate for Pokémon Tools like Rocky Helmet (20 chip damage) and Giant Cape (+20 HP). We even recommend including Articuno EX in your Palkia EX decks so that you’re not relying on Palkia alone. Vaporeon is there to transfer Energy from Articuno EX to Palkia EX anyway.
Articuno EX is a strong card that is extremely flexible, and with Manaphy and the new Tools, it is especially handy for any Water decks.
Melmetal
#182Melmetal has always been an underrated card. A neat 130 HP that is complemented by the Hard Coat Ability, making it take 20 less damage from attacks (basically immune to Rough Skin and Rocky Helmet), and a high damage move (120 DMG).
The only limitation was garnering 4 Energy for the move. But that problem is solved thanks to the powerful Dialga EX card!
Dialga ex
#205Keep Dialga EX on the Active and give it Rocky Helmet. Once it has 2 Energy, use Metallic Turbo which not only does 30 DMG but also gives 2 free Energy to any 1 of your Benched Pokémon (Meltan/Melmetal). Do this again, and in the third turn, retreat Dialga and bring out a completely ready Melmetal.
Melmetal is a menace with either Rocky Helmet or Giant Cape thanks to its Ability, and can consistently do 120 DMG. Even better, you can use Cyrus to force your opponent to bring out the Pokémon damaged by Dialga EX if they choose to withdraw it to their Bench. Steel decks are on the top echelon of TCG Pocket now!
Marshadow
#74The Mythical Island set introduced Marshadow, a strong revenge killer in the Fighting-type deck. If one of your cards is KO’d, Marshadow comes in and delivers 100 DMG to the opponent.
Imagine this damage output as 120 or 140! Enter Space-Time Smackdown’s Lucario.
Lucario
#170Lucario’s Ability Fighting Coach adds 20 DMG to your Active Pokémon’s attacks. So, when Marshadow comes to the front after your team suffered from a KO, it does 100 + 20 = 120 DMG. 😀
But this gets even better! Should you be able to add 2 Lucario to your Bench, the effect of Fighting Coach stacks, and they add 40 DMG, making Marshadow’s damage output 140! 😮 With Giovanni, Marshadow does 150 DMG, being able to OHKO the likes of Darkrai EX, Palkia EX, and Mewtwo EX.
The Fighting deck has mostly been a hidden gem and players don’t use it enough. Marshadow, Lucario, and other cards like the EX variants of Marowak or Machamp make a formidable team, and Marshadow is particularly dangerous.
The Space-Time Smackdown set has truly revolutionized TCG Pocket with some of its cards, and these buffed versions of older cards are testaments to this.
Go creative and build fun decks with these buffed cards and enjoy plenty of well-deserved wins!
Happy collecting and battling, TCG Pocket-ers!
